Essar Telecom Retail, an Essar group company that operates The MobileStore, its multi-service telecom retail outlets, is looking to introduce its own mobile brand, besides considering a into other emerging markets in Asia. |
"We are seriously looking at launching our own mobile brand, offering a complete range of handsets to bring better value to our customers. We are currently negotiating with a couple of original equipment manufacturers (OEM)," Rajiv Agarwal, chief executive officer and director, The MobileStore, said, while refusing to give details. |
Plans were also afoot to tap emerging markets such as Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, where the company intends to roll out its multi-brand mobile outlets in the next six months, he said. "Asia will definitely be our focus area." |
Launching the company's 21st store in Hyderabad, Agarwal said the company was aiming at creating a pan-India network of 2,500 outlets in the next two years. |
"At present, we have 450 stores in 70 cities. We intend to open up to 1,700 outlets by year-end and touch the 2,500-mark by 2010, covering 600 cities. We also plan hike the employee headcount to 10,000 people from 2,500," Agarwal said. |
According to Agarwal, The MobileStore, which currently generates revenues of Rs 1,200 crore annually, is set to touch the Rs 4,000 crore-top line mark by next year on the back of the rapid expansion of its retail network. |
The handset market in India is expected to touch 120 million units this year, as against 80 million last year. |